Ely’s Window Wanderland is Back!

Now in our third year, help The Stained Glass Museum and Babylon ARTS make Ely Window Wanderland 2022 our best yet!

Following the successes of Window Wanderland in Ely over the last few years, The Stained Glass Museum and Babylon ARTS have teamed up again to encourage Ely residents to transform Ely’s streets by making an illuminated window display as part of Ely’s third Window Wanderland event.

Window Wanderland is a fun family-friendly event, that sees communities create illuminated displays in windows. People can use the street-facing windows of their home, business, school, nursery, car, shop, or even their door, or front garden. A map showing the locations of illuminated window
displays is then created to form an after-dark
walking trail and community event, transforming local streets into galleries.

Ely’s first Window Wanderland was held in
October 2020. More than 250 homes and
businesses have now participated in this event, lighting up their windows with some amazing creative displays. Feedback from last year’s event was fantastic, enjoyed by all ages, we are delighted to be bringing this back again this year.

This year, Ely’s Window Wanderland will take
place over three evenings – Friday 21st, Saturday 22nd, and Sunday 23rd October 2022. Everyone is encouraged to get involved by illuminating their street-facing windows between 6pm and 9pm, creating an afterdark
walking trail of glowing windows. We are conscious of the ongoing energy crisis however, and encourage participants to use solar or battery powered lights where
they can to illuminate their windows after dark.

Jasmine Allen, Director and Curator at the Stained Glass Museum commented:
“We were so impressed at the amazing creativity window displays the people of Ely
created for last year’s event, and we would love to get even more people involved inthis year’s event. Taking part is free and the event over the last two years has been so enjoyable for children and adults alike!”

If you’re planning on transforming a window for Ely Window Wanderland please sign
up on our Window Wanderland event page
[https://www.windowwanderland.com/event/ely-cambs-2022/] so that we can create
a map of participants on our website. Then get planning your window display! If you
have any questions please refer them to: Elywindowwanderland@gmail.com

Florence Rose, Programme Manager of Babylon ARTS added: “If you’re wondering what to make, it can be as simple or as spectacular as you like, as long as it’s family friendly. If you’re struggling for inspiration, please come along to the workshop on Saturday 15th October, where we will be using tissue paper to create small ‘window in a window’ creations for you to display in your own windows. We are especially encouraging participants to use recycled or eco-friendly materials this year and we cannot wait to see your creations.”

For ideas and inspiration have a look at our Ely’s Window Wanderland 2021 gallery
on the Babylon Arts website or go to the Window Wanderland website:
[https://www.windowwanderland.com/gallery/]

For tips go to:
[https://www.windowwanderland.com/make/]

Some of the nice things local people said about previous Window Wanderland
events in Ely;

• “Such a brilliant idea! Great to get involved in, to view the work of others too, to get families out walking together, & encourages a feeling of belonging to our community

• “Was a really lovely event, thoroughly
enjoyed it and it was accessible and
appropriate for all ages – brilliant!”

• “This was a fantastic event! The opportunity to do something as a community was wonderful and uplifting …The variety of window displays was truly inspirational and we would love to see this added to the list of regular annual events in Ely”

• “I was amazed by the creativity on show. I
didn’t expect it to be as good as it was…
the surprise element was also lovely.
Thank you so much for organising this
wonderful event. We enjoyed it
tremendously.”

• I thoroughly enjoyed taking part and, as a new resident, it was lovely to explore lots of new-to-me areas of Ely too. What a wonderful community!

Press release from Babylon ARTS